Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1887-08-11
MILLY.

Widow Hosmer, as she peered anxious
ly out into the bleak, rainy twilight
Pete has sprained his leg so, slipping
down out of the hayloft, that he can't
take step on it, and s'pose you and
/ will have to finish the chores, Milly.'
tAll right mother; lean milk the
old Spreckle as well as not; and then
we have only to close up things for the
night, Pete managed to get the hay
down before he got himself down, but
/ do think he is the most awkward,
unlucky creature that we ever had on
the place. Here 1t isn't week since
he almost cut his thumb of, and it's a
mercy he didn't ourn the house up
yesterday when he went and started
the CRATE fire in the fireplace without
as much as taking the boards off the
chimney
Yes, that's so; he does seem bit
unbalanced; but l feel sorry for the
poor fellow. He's groaning dreadful
with his leg, and won't let me do a
thing for it; says he has got it wrap
ped up and thinks it will get easier
after he gets to bed. gave him
some liniment for it and he went to
his room. And now comes this dis
patch from Jim, and no one to 20 to
the station with his lunch;'
Never mind, mother; we'll fix it
somehow answered pretty, brown
eyed Milly, as she hustled about, put
ting on her water proof and over-shoes
preparatory to finishing the chores,
and the darkness hid the rosy flush
with which she said as the first tink-
ling streams of milk made music in the
tin pail: Mother I believe | can car
ry Jim's lunch to him myself
Mercy, Milly! I'd never dare to
let you!-the night so dark and the
road so long and lonely No, indeed,
child; Jim would never allow it,
i know, but it is too bad for the
poor fellow to go without his supper
this cold bleak night, and l know
every inch of the way with my eyes
shut.
Mrs. Hosmer shivered little as she
drew her shawl closer against the
keen autumn blast, and one could see
that her resolution wavered little.
"A cup of such nice hot coffee from
home would seem sort of cheerful to
him. she said, in meditating tone,
'and it's proper kind of you to make
the offer, child; but ] doubt it's being
safe for you gong so far alone
Nobody would be likely to be out
such an awful night as this, unless it
should be some of the neighboring
farmers, and even if there were the
darkness would hide me-
I'm afraid to let you go, Milly. I've
heard of tramps, and,
'I'll tell you, mother; ri take Jim's
revolver! He left it in his room the
last time he was at home
WELL began Mrs. Hosmer, rather
doubtfully though you'd never dare
to use it.
Yes, I would, if 1 really needed itr
responded Milly; so let us call it set
tied and 60 and get something nice put
up for lunch
Really pleased down in her mater
nal heart for this regard for her sons
comfort, Mrs. Hosmer gave reluctant
consent; for Jim was her only and
most idolized child, little Milly being
only the daughter of a dear friend
whose child Mrs. Hosmer had gladly
taken to her heart and home.
The farm was small and jim detest-
ed farming, so man was always en-
ployed on the place, while ambitious
Jim risked his life and limb as an
engineer. He was now a handsome
stalwart fellow of twenty-six, whose
broad shoulders, bronze face, and
merry eyes were secretly enshrined in
Milly's heart as her ideal of all that
was noble and manly. AS for Jim,
he, too, had an ideal, and often as he
sat waiting on his engine he pictured
a future freside to which he could
turn for rest instead of to his barren
clearinghouse, and the womans face
that always smiled his welcome in it's
light was wonderfully like the little
picture of Milly that he always carried
in the pocket of his blue flannel shirt.
Many time the engine light shone
over the intervals of work, and Jim
would whisper softly, BY and by, lit
tie girl, as he carefully slipped it back
where it beat with every beat of his
heart.
Working faithfully and steadily,
secretly laying the foundation of that
ideal home, Jim had gained the re.
spect and confidence of his employers
and was on the road to promotion
But his work was now somewhat
varied, and when the busy season
came and freight was moving freely,
he often ran wild train through
Rockfeld, as the little place was called,
where station had been erected for
the accommodation of the surrounding
farmers. Il
On these occasions he generally sent
home dispatch, as in the present
case, and on his return found a tempt
ing luach waiting his coming, and
a0matimes If the weather was fine cot /